Province launches info drive on traffic safety

THE Cebu Provincial government launched their first information campaign yesterday in Barangay Lipata, Minglanilla town, southern Cebu to raise awareness among the elementary and high school students regarding traffic safety.

Provincial Board (PB) member Christopher Baricuatro, head of the committee on education, said they introduced the campaign Sugbo Likay sa Disgrasya to instill in the students about the importance of road discipline.

“Ang gusto namo is early pa lang matudloan namo ang mga bata sa disiplina sa traffic kay in the future sila naman mahimong drivers, pedestrians, commuters, at least bata pa lang sila kahibaw na sila sa traffic laws (We wanted to teach children about traffic discipline as early as now. In the future, they will become drivers, pedestrians, and commuters. At least, they know traffic laws while they are still young),” Baricuatro told reporters yesterday.

Jonathan “Joy” Tumulak, Capitol’s focal person on traffic management, said students were taught basic information about traffic signages, intersections, and proper pedestrian crossing.

“Nakita man nga daghang mga eskwelahan nga naa sa national highway nga nabutang nga delikado ang mga bata (We observed that there are many schools located along the national highway, which is dangerous for the children),” Tumulak said.

He added that they have chosen Minglanilla as the first town to benefit from the seminar, considering the town is among the areas in Metro Cebu experiencing traffic problems.

The information campaign, Baricuatro said, is not only focused on schools located in the urban areas, but also schools in the far-flung barangays.

“Ang mga taga rural areas moadto man pud sa city, so kinahanglan nga kahibaw pud sila sa mga traffic laws and signs (Those from rural areas will also go to the city, so they should be aware of the traffic laws and signs),” Baricuatro said.

He said he is planning to put into legislation to include 10 to 15-minute traffic education in classroom instruction.

Baricuatro also said the school supplies that will be distributed next year will already include Visayan-translated instructions on common traffic laws and signs.